Best Ammunition For Self Defense And Concealed Carry
We are showcasing the best ammunition for self-defense and concealed carry. Below you will find YouTube video reviews for each round and a text “Video Summary” on that round. It is important to test various ammunition in your own firearm as each round will perform differently in different calibers and each will have a “feel” to it that ultimately comes down to your own personal preference.
So read our reviews, watch the video reviews and then get a box of the ammo that seems like the best fit for you and get to the range. There is absolutely no substitute for range time, and while you may think that you’ve selected the best ammunition for yourself until you’ve put some rounds through your specific weapon in your specific caliber you do not know what to expect from any ammunition.
Additionally it is important to perform some shooting drills while at the range with the various ammo you’ve selected. With the varying bullet grain and the varying powder level in each round shooting each round will provide a notably different shooting experience and will therefore affect your timing and accuracy. So perform shooting drills that put you in the stressed shooting environment that you would be in during an actual attack. These rounds are not listed in any particular order.
1 – Nosler Defense
Available In: 9mm, 40S&W, 45 ACP
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 9mm 115 grain version of this round. Tested velocity 1100 FPS even and penetration through 3 milk jugs filled with water. Great expansion with a funny twist you’ll have to watch the video for.
2 – CorBon JHP
Available In: All Major Calibers
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 40S&W 165 grain version of this round. Velocities ranged from 1143-1164 FPS. Penetration through four layers of denim and into ballistic gel is 11.75″.
3 – HPR JHP
Available In: All Major Calibers
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 9mm 115 grain version of this round. Velocities in this test range from 1026-1066 FPS. Penetration through ballistic gel ranged from 17.00″-18.25″. Video test runs bullets through thick denim along with ballistic gel, check out the video to see.
4 – Hornady Critical Defense
Available In: All Major Calibers
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 9mm 115 grain version of this round. Velocities range from 1106-1131 FPS. Penetration into ballistic gel was measured at 14.75″.
5 – Speer Gold Dots
Available In: All Major Calibers
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 9mm 115 grain version of his round. Average velocity after 5 rounds is 1202 FPS. Penetration through ballistic gel and four layers of denim is 17.5″.
6 – Winchester Defender
Available In: All Major Calibers
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 9mm 147 grain version of this round. Velocity average across 5 rounds is 991 FPS. Penetration through 4 layers of denim and into ballistic gel was measured at 14.75″
7 – Hornady Critical Duty
Hornady Critical Duty Ammo Site
Available In: 357 Mag, 357 Sig, 9mm, 40s&W, 10mm, 45ACP
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 9mm +P 135 grain version of this round. Velocity from 5 shot average was 1125 FPS. Penetration through 4 layers of denim and into ballistic gel 16.75″.
8 – Federal HYDRA-SHOK
Available In: All Major Calibers
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 9mm +P 135 grain version of this round. Velocity from 5 shot average was 1125 FPS. Penetration through 4 layers of denim and into ballistic gel 16.75″.
9 – Remington Golden Saber
Available In: All Major Calibers
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 9mm 147 grain version of this round. Velocity average after 5 shots measures 964 FPS. Penetration through 4 layers of denim and into ballistic gel measures 15.375″.
10 – Federal HST
Available In: 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP
Video Summary
This test is performed with the 9mm +P 124 grain version of this round. Velocity average after 5 shots measures 1178 FPS. Penetration through 4 layers of denim and into ballistic gel measures 14.75″.
In Closing
While there is a lot of very good information here on all of these rounds, deciding what the best ammunition is for you will always require shooting some of it first. You do not want to end up in an defensive gun use situation with ammunition that you are not very familiar with. It is important to have the best ammunition for you, so take some time and get yourself some boxes of these various rounds and perform some of your own tests.
Perhaps you haven’t yet selected the best concealed carry handgun, be sure to watch this DandC original video on Best Handguns For Concealed Carry 2015.